Sports

PREVIEW: Federal Hocking Hoping To Break .500 in 2014

Editor's Note: Over the next two weeks our reporters will be bringing you team previews for each team in the SEOAL, TVC-Ohio, TVC-Hocking, and our West Virginia teams. We continue in the TVC-Hocking, where Trimble and Wahama are still the top teams.

As a new head coach, Craig Moore wants to get his Federal Hocking Lancers to be a dominant force in the TVC-Hocking conference. Moore, who has been on the coaching staff in previous years as an assistant and offensive coordinator, has high expectations for this year’s squad.

Coming off a 5-5 season in 2013, the Lancers plan to improve this season’s record with some new faces on both sides of the ball. Moore called these new faces “first-year seniors,” as this will be some players’ first year of football.

Moore was very pleased with the outcome of the team’s camp practices and two-a-days sessions, saying it went very smooth and the kids’ energy and enthusiasm was unmatchable.

The loss of two-way players Delbert Crum and Peyton Seel from last season hurts the team on both sides of the ball, but he most certainly does not see the new faces to lead to a potentially down season.

“[The seniors] provided most of the leadership last year and a lot of big plays,” Moore said, “but we’ve got some new faces to the program as well as some players that were absent last year due to injury. We’re inexperienced, but we’re definitely going to surprise people.”

Key players for the Lancers this season include two guys who missed 2013 due to injury, in running backs Albert Santiago and AJ Cobbs. Moore says senior receiver Jonathan Snider and lineman Brian Forcer will turn heads as well.

Offensively Moore says the Lancers will have a balanced approach, and defensivley the staff has chosen to keep it simple to start, but will use many schemes throughout the season depending who the opponent is.

The Lancers’ coaching staff is rather young, but Moore isn’t worried. He says the young staff is very bright and knowledgeable of the game.

“I think we mesh well with the players and we’re able to communicate and reach out to the players easily and I think they’re getting a lot out of it,” Moore said.

The Lancers main goal for now is to improve upon last season’s .500 overall record. However, the ultimate goal is to lead the Lancers to the playoffs for the first time in a number of years.

The Lancers begin their season at Alexander on Thursday, Aug. 28 in a battle for the SPACER Trophy.

'Gridiron Glory' airs every Friday night at 11:30 p.m. on WOUB. You can follow the show on Twitter @gridironglory, like the Gridiron Glory page on Facebook, and follow along on Instagram @woubsports. You can also join the conversation throughout the season by using the hashtag #GridGlory.